14. CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 14
Graham
Cassidy's computer chimes with a notification.
"We got something," she says and puts the food container down.
I follow her to the desk and lean from behind her to take a look at the screen. The radicals leader's pictures are spread in a neat timeline. Cassidy sorts through them just as the F-Rec's add-in Face-ID comes through with a result.
"Jason White," Cassidy reads out loud. "Thirty-six years old. Marine. Dishonorable discharge."
Her breath catches. She realizes what this means.
"We stop him, we end the killings," I confirm, not even able to celebrate the victory of gaining knowledge. The sooner we find out who the radicals are, the sooner we’ll be able to destroy them all.
"I don't think the others will be all that easy to pick up," Cassidy muses.
"They will," I assure her. "All we need to do is keep an eye on Jason, follow his movements, and analyze the faces of the people he's met with prior to the attacks. Let's assume that the planning took several months, so we should look back at least three months before the first attack."
"Makes sense," she agrees. "Should we divide and conquer?"
I scratch my chin, taking a moment to think it through.
"Our priority should still be trying to identify the leak," I say, thinking out loud. "We should find a way to link Jason to someone inside Grey Enterprises."
"I can set up new parameters to search through Jason's videos and see if we can put him in the same spot with any of the workers," Cassidy suggests.
"Yes, do that," I agree, nodding my head. "I'll make some calls to get more information on Jason. Hopefully, I can get his phone number. With that, I can track him through his digital footprint."
I turn to the other computer and take a look at my emails while Cassidy pulls up the task on her machine. For now, the excitement of this new development fades away and leaves an empty feeling.
Jasmine White was a dead end. She moved her coven to India to add other culture’s practices on top of their own knowledge and only left the country for the coven gatherings. As far as I can tell, she never raised a son, but I doubt that Jason would be lying about that.
It's possible that he was raised by his father in the States, my wolf suggests.
We'll know more once we capture Jason, I reply, not wanting to dive deep into this mystery hole when Jason should be stopped.
"This could take a while," Cassidy mutters. "You have too many people working for you."
"And too many outside contractors," I agree with a humorless chuckle. "Maybe we should let the program run its course while we get some sleep."
She nods. "I definitely need a break."
"Come with me," I say and lead her out of the office.
"Where are we going?" she asks when we pass the elevators.
Are you sure about this? my wolf asks. We've never taken anyone there.
There's always a first time, I mutter back. Besides, I think she's earned it.
"You have to promise me not to mention to anyone what I'm about to show you," I warn her when we reach what looks like the office storage door except for the keypad on the wall accompanied with a fingerprint and retina scan.
"I promise," she says, her green eyes wide.
Graham , my wolf warns, giving me another chance to change my mind. I don't.
Covering the keypad with my body, I punch in the code, followed by scanning my right thumb and finishing with both retinas. The door beeps and opens, revealing a steep set of stairs.
"Is that the entrance to the roof?" she asks in wonder.
"Not exactly," I reply. "Everyone thinks the building has fifty floors because it says so in the elevator. But if anyone ever bothered to count the windows from the outside, they'd see that there are fifty-one floors."
Cassidy stares at me, her head tilted in question.
"Go up and see for yourself," I offer with a small smile.
She climbs up the stairs and I follow close behind, letting the door close after me. The security locks reactivate and make the whole door impenetrable. Despite its weak appearance, even a wolf would have a lot of problems getting through. Helia used her powers to help me fortify the defenses around the entrance to my home.
The door on the top of the stairs is regulated with a sensor movement. It slides open the moment Cassidy reaches the last stair. She steps into the foyer of my luxurious apartment.
"Welcome to my penthouse, Cassie," I say with a grin. "I'm the ultimate workaholic. My work is my life, and my life is my work."
"I'm impressed," Cassie says. "That's really clever that you get the best of both worlds."
"Except that I have to go on too many business trips for my liking," I comment. "It comes with the job. You can't have success without nurturing certain relationships."
"It's not too bad as long as you have someone to share it with," she adds.
I let the meaning of her words sink in. They are hopeful but scared at the same time. And who could blame her? Just being near me is very dangerous. She's aware of how many times I could've ended her by something as simple as losing control.
It can be a lonely life , my wolf agrees. But still, be careful.
"I've always done things by myself," I tell her. "Despite having three brothers, I've never learned the concept of sharing. They had different interests from me, and I never craved Father's approval the way they did."
"That gives you a different kind of power, doesn't it?" she says with a small smile. "A different kind of freedom."
"It does," I agree. "But it's also lonely."
That's the most honest thing I've said in my entire life. Surprisingly, it didn't come from me admitting something that sounded foolish.
Since I don't know how to proceed any further than a friendly conversation between colleagues, I give a mental shrug and instead say, "Well, I better show you to the guest room. I'm sure you want to get some sleep before we return to the office."
I don't move, however, nor try to touch her.
Maybe it's for the best. She seems to be thinking hard about something when she says, "You don't have to sleep alone. Not tonight."
She takes a step toward me, and I remain frozen. I don't even dare breathe.
Cassie stops and lets out a shy chuckle. "Is this okay? I want to be with you tonight and nothing more. Just sleep."
She's also lonely, my wolf observes.
I shake my head and then clear my throat. What is happening to me? Now I'm having trouble formulating words. My thoughts were never this jumbled. This much of a mess.
"I would like that," I finally manage.
Cassidy follows me through the foyer and down a long, narrow corridor. I turn to the right and push the door to the master bedroom open.
It's a beautiful, wide room with its own balcony and bathroom. Inside there's a king-sized bed and a small area where she can put her things, not that she brought any, but maybe in the future...
"Would you like to put on something more comfortable?" I ask, glancing at her skirt. "I can give you one of my shirts."
"That would be nice, thank you," she replies. "Do you mind if I freshen up in the bathroom?"
I smile. "Take your time."
As soon as I let her go in, I stride to the tall closet and check for something casual. At the top shelf, there's a stack of boxes that contain every size of T-shirt and sweatshirt I ever bought or have been gifted. For some reason, I have trouble parting with my things, so I never bothered to donate them.
Once I find the fluffiest, largest one, I close the closet and put the shirt next to her pillow on the right side of the bed. The left one is for me. After undressing, I leave my boxer briefs on and climb under the warm comforter.
I never let anyone invade my space. My brothers don't even know this apartment exists. Helia's the only one who's been here and even that only because she helped me secure it. She promised not to tell a soul, even her fated mate.
I can hear Cassie brushing her teeth. She must've found a new backup package in the drawer. I like to stock up on things. There's nothing I hate more than having to go to the shop because I've run out of something. Sometimes, I add the order to the office supplies and have the necessities brought to my office.
Cassie comes from the bathroom wearing nothing but her underwear and bra. It's not the first time I get to see her like this, but damn, it does wake up something in my gut.
Give her the shirt, my wolf says, and only then do I realize I'm staring.
"Here," I say, grabbing the shirt from the pillow where I left it for her.
"Thanks." She smiles and puts it over her head.
After that, she walks around the bed and pulls away the bed covers on her side. She looks at me with a nervous smile.
"Is this alright?" she asks again. "I just—"
I nod. "Let's try it."
I can see the conflict on her face, but she jumps into the bed and scoots over to her side. There's a couple feet between us. A million miles from where I want her right now.
I'm unable to fall asleep at first. I take long, calming breaths, following a pattern of inhale, hold, release. I avoid even glancing in her direction, listening to her every movement.
At some point, I start getting tired. It feels more comfortable now that my eyes are closed, and I start drifting off to sleep.
"Goodnight, Graham," I hear her say from somewhere far, far away.
"Night, Cassie," I murmur back.
Something is stirring within me. Something I've never felt before. Whatever it is, I don't try to fight it. I embrace it with my entire being, and right before I fall asleep, I realize with a painful certainty what it is.
This is home.
I'm not sure if I've slept or not when my phone chimes loudly with a text notification. It's the early hours of the morning, and I realize with a pang of fear that I've slept way longer than I usually do. But then my phone sounds again, and it jerks me awake completely.
Cassidy grumbles and tightens her grip on my arm. I reflexively lean closer and kiss her forehead to calm her. It's only when my lips brush her skin that I realize what I'm doing.
I'm sharing my bed with a woman without even fucking her. We were just sleeping. Not even that. We were fucking cuddling the entire night.
How the hell can I explain the fact that my legs are intertwined with hers, her back pressed against my chest, and my arms wrapped around her fragile body?
My phone sounds again, and I glance over my shoulder at the flashing screen.
"What's going on?" Cassidy mumbles sleepily, stirring under my touch.
I try to pull away and she does as well, but our legs get tangled, and when she makes an effort to push herself out of my bed, the movement causes both of us to roll off the bed onto the floor.
"Uff," I groan when I land on my back with her on top of me.
"Sorry," she says with a gasp. Her cheeks go from light pink to bright red.
"Nothing to be sorry for," I assure her and run my hands up her naked legs.
Cassidy narrows her eyes. "Why do you always have to cover your sensitive side by being an asshole?"
"A necessary evasion technique," I shoot back. "Especially in this line of work."
She regards me for a while. "Some things are not worth guarding," she says. "Including your softer emotions."
I chuckle, the vibrations shaking her body on top of mine. "The only thing wolves are allowed to have soft is our fur. Everything else gets you killed."
She opens her mouth to say something, but my phone chimes once more. With a groan, I extricate myself from under her and crawl to where my phone is on the bedside table.
"Is there an emergency?" Cassidy asks. She's wrapped the comforter around her shoulders so now I can't even take a look at her sexy legs.
"Not sure," I reply and unlock the screen. My vision clears up when I read the notification. "We should get back to the office. We got a hit."
Cassidy is out of my room in a flash. I take another couple of minutes to mentally put on my boss hat and gear my senses into the deadly creature I've learned to become.
It doesn't take us long to get dressed and ready to leave. This time, I take her directly to the office.
She sits behind the computer and gasps. "That's impossible."
"What is it?" I ask, coming around the desk to join her. "Did we find our leak?"
Cassidy's eyes tear up as she nods.
"Who is it?" I demand, and gently slide her chair to the side to give me space. I read the name on top of the screen next to the picture of an average-looking guy. "Tim Robinson."
Cassidy nods.
"Do you know him?" I ask.
"Graham," she chokes. "He's my ex-boyfriend. The one who wrote all those messages."
A red veil covers my vision.
"Calm down," she warns me.
Tim Robinson must die , my wolf roars in my head. He betrayed us and he hurt her. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.
I take a step back from Cassie. My senses begin to heighten as my control slips away. The nails are the first to shift into deadly claws, followed by my teeth lengthening into sharp fangs.
"Graham, no," I hear Cassie's voice, and despite my heightened hearing ability, it sounds muffled and miles away. "Take a deep breath."
Breathing is overrated. Killing, on the other hand, is the cure of all wounds.
Another growl reverberates inside me, and it's close to breaking loose from my throat.
I'll take care of him, my wolf growls. Traitors don't deserve to live.
"Graham, please," Cassidy begs again, and I hear every single word this time. "If you do this, there's no way back."
My eyes are fixed on the traitor's photo.
He must pay.
"Graham," she calls me again, and I turn to her. She takes a step back, her eyes wide.
I'm taking over, my wolf roars, and this time, the force of him erases the edge of her words. I can't hold him back anymore.
With a menacing growl, I burst out of my own body and enter my wolf's form.
Let the hunt begin !
Cassidy screams and jumps back.
I knock over the computer tower, and a few other things as my wolf form gets the feel of the room.
Adrenaline rushes through my veins like fire. The fury consumes me, taking over my rationality. There's only one thing that will soothe the anger inside me. It's the trail of the traitor's blood.
The muscles in my thighs tense as I prepare to sprint through the door, but my path is obstructed. I let out a low, warning growl to the small green-eyed girl who's stupid enough to stand in a wolf's path.
Her legs are shaking, but she doesn't budge.
I snarl, exposing my sharp teeth.
She takes a deep breath and clutches the back of the fallen chair.
"Come on, fight me," she dares me.
The words don't sink in.
My world has grown too small to make room for someone as inferior as her.
I sense the pulse of her weak heart. It will make a good trophy once it stops beating.
No, it won’t, a small voice inside me tells me. It doesn’t belong to me or the wolf. It’s something else. Something stronger. Something ancient, loud, and powerful. She’s to be protected.
Despite the urge to get past her by any means necessary, I sheathe my claws. Instead, I charge forward, fully intent to step around her. Her eyes widen, but she doesn't have the wisdom to stay out of my way. For some ridiculous reason unknown to me, she steps in my path.
My momentum’s too strong to avoid her, and yet, I do my best to hurl myself to the side. A small part of my body still hits her, but a lot less than a full-front attack would.
The sound of a glass breaking reaches my ears, followed by a sweet and familiar scent that fills my nostrils. Her hand reaches up to her neck, the skin turning red as the sticky liquid seeps through her fingers. With the jarring clarity, comes the realization that she’s landed on a glass table.
Cassie.
Sweet, tempting Cassie.
My mind immediately clears as my wolf, and I regain control over the ancient unknown, which tried to get us to protect Cassie no matter what, even from ourselves. It almost worked, too, if only she hadn’t stepped in my way when I tried so hard to avoid her.
Panic filters into me. How could I lose control like that? My fury almost killed an innocent.
My fear turns into cold dread.
What did we do? I demand.
She was in the way, my wolf growls back, still influenced by the red rage. He's not thinking clearly. All he wants to do is kill, end this now, and then search for the true enemy. We didn’t mean to.
Let me out, I demand. We have to heal her.
My wolf retreats.
As soon as I shift back into a human, I crouch next to Cassie, trying to assess the damage.
Blood and gore cover her upper body. Wounds scream red and swollen.
"We have to clean and stitch these," I say as I rip her blouse open to reveal her entire torso. My own clothes have been ripped to shreds by the unexpected transformation.
"Towels, bandages, sewing kit. It's best we go to the penthouse," I mutter.
"Graham."
I glance at Cassie and note that her face is pale as she breathes laboriously.
It takes me all my strength to not lash out again and stop the beast inside me from ripping apart anything that threatens Cassie. I'm in control of my actions, not him.
"Everything will be alright," I tell her, hoping that she can't see the horrible state of her own wounds, or else I'll never earn her forgiveness for doing this to her. "I'll fix this."
I gently lift her in my arms and hurry out of the office. Fortunately, it's too early for anyone to be in and see my naked ass running around. The security guards could probably hear the wolf growls and the snarls. Even if they did, they are wolves themselves.
Inside the penthouse, I take her straight to the master bedroom and lay her on the bed. She's bleeding out. There's more blood than I've ever seen.
"I'll fix this," I promise over and over again, muttering it under my breath like a prayer.
Heal her , I order to my wolf. You did this. You have to fix her.
I can't , he argues. I can only heal us.
We have to do something , I scream in my mind, panic taking over me.
Call Helia!